Yann Sommer linked with emotional return to Basel as Inter face summer exodus
Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer is a primary target for a summer move to Swiss club Basel, according to the club's sporting director David Degen. With Sommer's contract at Inter set to expire and his role as first-choice goalkeeper under threat next season, a return to the club where he began his professional career appears increasingly plausible. Degen, speaking to Swiss media, explicitly named Sommer as his preferred candidate, stating the veteran shot-stopper would significantly aid the club's sporting project.
Degen confirmed Basel's strong interest, noting the deep affection the club and its supporters hold for Sommer. "My preferred candidate plays about 300-350 kilometers away as the crow flies," Degen said. "I hope he calls me soon. He knows he can call me, he is aware of it, he must send me a signal." He added that while current Basel goalkeeper Jonas Omlin is also an excellent option, the club would focus its efforts on Sommer if he becomes available. The 35-year-old Swiss international enjoyed a hero's reception from the Basel crowd when he attended a friendly at the Sankt Jakob-Park last month, underscoring his enduring legacy at the club.
Sommer joined Inter from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 and played a pivotal role in the Nerazzurri's Serie A title charge this season, providing stability following the departure of Andre Onana. However, with Inter planning significant changes to their squad for the next campaign, Sommer is not expected to remain the undisputed number one. The club is reportedly targeting a new starting goalkeeper, potentially leaving Sommer to depart as a free agent. A move to Basel would offer a sentimental conclusion to his career, allowing him to return to the club where he made over 200 appearances between 2007 and 2014 before his moves to Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich.
The potential departure of Sommer is part of a broader squad overhaul anticipated at Inter this summer, with several senior players out of contract. According to the report, defender Stefan de Vrij is likely to leave, with a lucrative two-year offer from Qatari side Al-Sadd on the table. Fellow center-back Francesco Acerbi is also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, specifically to Al-Hilal, where his former manager Simone Inzaghi could take charge. Wing-back Matteo Darmian is reportedly being offered to Torino, where he previously played, while midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is contemplating his future and could even retire. The only current player expected to renew his contract is third-choice goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro.
For Basel, securing Sommer would represent a major coup, bringing back a club legend and Swiss national team icon to provide experience and leadership. For Inter, his likely exit signals the end of an era and the beginning of a transitional period, as the Serie A champions look to rebuild their defensive core while managing the departure of multiple key veterans who were instrumental in their recent success.
